IKON
Glenn Saldanha, a pharmacy graduate from Mumbai University and an MBA from Leonard Stern School of Business, New York University. He has 15 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Industry. He has been the Chairman of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. As you perhaps already know Glenmark has a factory in Goa. He opened a new factory in Switzerland, where it already has a research center, to make drugs for cancer and multiple sclerosis. It’s also building a new factory in the U.S., a market that contributes more than a third to Glenmark’s $1 billion annual revenues. Glenn Saldanha net worth is 1,030 $Million.
You may perhaps not know the story of the drug called “Thalidomide”. This was developed by a German pharmaceutical company. It was prescribed as a sedative, tranquilizer, and for pregnant women to help with morning sickness. It became an instant success in many countries. In fact was patented in 1954. However in the US, Frances Kelsey a physician / pharmacologist who worked for the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the early sixties refused to license this drug due to lack of clinical evidence about its side effects. The denial of a license in the US, saved lives of children in the US unlike the countries it was used in. This drug caused severe deformities in babies and many even died.
Kelsey was awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. This is the highest award the US government can give a civilian. So in the same case one Pharmaceutical Scientist gets an award and another due, not going through a through process of checks and balances caused deformities and deaths.
What is the Job all about?
Pharmaceutical scientists work hard in a laboratory learning how different compounds interact with disease-causing cells and organisms. They investigate how various compounds interact with the human body to demonstrate if these drugs can help reduce human misery. Naturally these studies take a long time to transform into useable drugs –some take upto 15-20 years. Recent estimates indicate that the development of a new drug costs around $1 billion These investments are protected by patents that give the developers exclusive rights to sell the drug for upto seven years. Naturally new drugs are very expensive.
There are five stages before new drugs become useable by doctors.
- Compounds are found that can treat the disease
- Clinical trials then take place –both on animals and humans
- Due approvals from FDA are obtained
- Mass manufacturing
- Medical Representatives inform Doctors of the usage of these drugs
Is there a future in this field?
The Pharmacist will always be in demand, as there is constant Research going on to better products on one hand and on the other to find solutions to new disease’s as they keep coming up like Dengue, Chickengunia, etc. Quality of the new Drug and its after effects is also a huge concern as we saw in the example above and lots of importance is given to try out drugs before they go commercial.
CAREERS IN PHARMACY
Pharmacists can work as:
- Medical Pharmacist
- Retail Pharmacist
- Industrial Pharmacist
- Research Pharmacist (Pharmaceutical Companies & Food & Drug Admin)
- Professors in Colleges
- Management Executives / Medical Sales Representatives
The study of pharmacy is at the following levels – Diploma of 2 yrs. duration, Degree of 4 years duration after 10 + 2 and Post Graduation of 2 years. The Technicians / Retail Outlet jobs are open to Diploma holders, while Graduates opt for manufacturing and quality control jobs. Post Graduates and Doctorates are selected for research, quality control and management positions. Students completing Class XII with PCB/M are eligible for the study of Pharmacy.
Can you go for it?
Pharmacists in India are employed by huge Pharmacy Retail outlets and, in some cases, they also run the business themselves. Goa has over 65 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing companies – so there are wide varieties of openings in Research, Manufacture, quality control, etc. We also have the FDA in Goa (Verna plateau) where quality control is carried out not only for Medical products but also the hygiene of any Hotel, Restaurant, Canteen or where ready made food preparations are made e.g. Pickles, Papads, Cereals, Noodles, Sausages, etc
Where to Begin?
in Goa
Goa College of Pharmacy, Panaji – http://www.gcp.goa.gov.in
PES College of Pharmacy Education and Research, Farmagudi, Ponda – http://www.pespharma.edu.in.
After 10 + 2, you need PCB plus Maths and English.
Diploma in Pharmacy – 2 years
Pharm. – 4 years
GRADUATE PHARMACY APTITUDE TEST (GPAT) is a national level entrance exam conducted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) every year. This test facilitates institutions to select suitable Pharmacy graduates for admission into the Master’s (M.Pharm) program. The GPAT is a three hour computer based online test which is conducted in a single session.
The GPAT score is accepted by all AICTE-Approved Institutions / University Departments / Constituent Colleges / Affiliated Colleges. A few scholarships and other financial assistance in the field of Pharmacy are also given on the basis of the GPAT score.
Pharm (Quality Assurance) – 2 years
Pharm (Pharmacology) – 2 year
Pharm (Pharmacognosy) – 2 years
MBA ( Marketing & Sales) 2 years (if you want to be in Directorial or General Manager positions)
Outside Goa:
Many opportunities exist for those wanting to pursue Pharmacy studies outside Goa.
College of Pharmacy, Plot 47, Worli Seaface, Mumbai. B. Pharm. (60), Pharm.
Bombay College of Pharmacy, Santacruz, Mumbai. Pharm.(60), M. Pharm.(12)
Department of Chemical Technology, Mumbai University. B. Pharm.(30), M. Pharm. (20)
CU Shah College of Pharmacy, Vidyavihar, Santacruz (W). Mumbai. B. Pharm.(30), M. Pharm.(15)
AL – Ameen College of Pharmacy, Hosur Road, Near Lalbagh, Main Gate, Bangalore 560027 B. Pharm. (60), M. Pharm.(20)
Gautham College of Pharmacy, Bangalore B. Pharm. (50), M. Pharm.
HKE Society College of Pharmacy, Gulbarga 585105. B. Pharm. (60), M. Pharm. (20)
SCS College of Pharmacy, Harapanahalli 583131, Bellary. B. Pharm. (90) M. Pharm.
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576119. B. Pharm. (100), M. Pharm.
Nitte Gulabi Shetty Memorial, Mangalore, B. Pharm.(80), M. Pharm. (15)
JSS College of Pharmacy, Shivarathreeshwara Nagar Mysore 570015. B. Pharm. (60), M. Pharm.
Employment potential:
There are several jobs in each of the areas of specialization pointed above.
Money:
Diploma Holders get around Rs. 7,500/- going up to Rs. 10,000/-. Graduates and Post Graduates vary from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs 25,000/- and thereafter to Rs. 35,000/- to Rs. 300,000/- pm.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/